Appearance of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 67

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 67
“…!”
The wooden cutting board spun backward against Byeok Gyotoo’s force.
The moment Yeon-woo felt the collision of the two forces, she released the board and fell back.
And in that same instant.
Crack—!
The wooden cutting board split apart, scattering fragments in every direction.
“Impressive instincts.”
Byeok Gyotoo calmly plucked a wooden fragment that had embedded itself in the back of his hand.
In the meantime, Yeon-woo’s eyes flicked toward the door beyond his shoulder.
“What is it? Do you hope someone will come because of all this noise?”
“….”
Wake up. Right now the trainees are in their individual cultivation time—no one’s walking about. Even if someone dies here, no one would know.”
“That’s not the reason.”
“…What?”
“There’s a bad feeling in the air around this building. You’ve cast a Qi Barrier, haven’t you?”
“…!”
Byeok Gyotoo’s eyes flashed with light.
His mouth curved upward with interest.
“You can sense that too? Who exactly have you been learning from? I’m starting to wonder if I’ve stumbled upon someone I shouldn’t have.”
Byeok Gyotoo picked up several of the split wooden fragments.
‘What is he doing?’
He placed the fragments in his palm and rolled them back and forth as he spoke.
“It was nothing, you say?”
“…?”
“The training from earlier.”
“Yes.”
“Then let me show you. How vital seeing and dodging truly are.”
Yeon-woo’s brow furrowed.
‘What is he talking about?’
The thought had barely formed when—
Snap—
“…!”
A sharp pain bloomed across her left cheek.
Then the metallic smell of blood seeped into her nostrils.
Blood seeping from her cheek.
“…Ow.”
She hadn’t even seen it.
Turning around, a long wooden fragment was embedded in a pillar behind her.
In that moment—
Snap—
“…!”
Another fragment flew dangerously close past Yeon-woo’s face.
Yeon-woo spun to face Byeok Gyotoo.
“You startled me!”
“If you’re facing someone far stronger than you, it’s foolish to lose focus.”
Yeon-woo’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“Now you understand? How stupid it is to think you can penetrate a defense when you can’t even see, dodge, or parry. With such pitiful skills, you’ll be struck down by the enemy’s arrow before you ever manage to push through. You will.”
“That’s something you only know by trying!”
“You just tried, didn’t you?”
And you couldn’t see or dodge.
Hiss…!
Yeon-woo clenched her fists.
She drew her Axe and took her stance.
“Again!”
“Arrogance merely hastens death. Do it again and the result will be the same.”
“That’s why I’m asking you to try again! This time I’ll see it clearly and counter!”
“Do you realize I’m even watching out for you?”
“I’ve known that from the start!”
Because she knew, she hadn’t rushed in recklessly.
Yeon-woo’s grip tightened around the handle of the axe.
Her gaze fixed entirely on the wooden fragment Byeok Gyotoo was toying with, turning it over between his fingers.
Her eyes had settled into perfect, absolute stillness.
“….”
In that instant, a gaze focused with singular intensity on what mattered.
Byeok Gyotoo felt something indefinable—a sharp, electric sensation.
‘What a shame.’
With proper training, this talent could have easily reached Demon General Rank.
Perhaps that was why.
Despite the vast gap in skill that would allow him to kill her instantly, Byeok Gyotoo found himself, without quite realizing it, giving her leeway.
Even now, he could pierce through her guard and end it with a single stroke to the throat—but somehow, he didn’t want to.
‘This is a strange feeling indeed.’
Pity? Compassion?
Such pointless emotions.
“Then, shall we try this….”
Byeok Gyotoo raised his right hand.
Between his fingers lay several sharp wooden fragments, held with deceptive ease.
“Defend yourself!”
Whistle—whish-whish-whistle—! Whine—!
Five fragments hurtled toward Yeon-woo in rapid succession.
“…!”
Axe in hand, Yeon-woo stepped to meet them.
Crack—tap-tap-tap—!
She barely managed to deflect the fragments with the flat of the blade. But in the moment she batted away the last piece—
Crack—!
Pitter-patter—!
The fragment shattered explosively, scattering in all directions.
Byeok Gyotoo had poured Inner Force into that last fragment at the crucial instant.
“…!”
Shards embedded themselves across Yeon-woo’s body.
She raised the axe blade to shield her face, but one sharp shard tore through the skin above her left eye and past.
Blood streamed down in an instant.
“Ow!”
“Still have leisure enough to feel pain? How composed of you!”
Swish—
Byeok Gyotoo seized the moment when half her vision went dark.
He closed the distance at the same instant he’d launched the fragments.
He had shown her restraint until now, had even matched her rhythm when she asked for another attempt—but there was a limit to how long he could draw this out.
‘This ends now!’
Shriek—!
The eating utensil in Byeok Gyotoo’s hand streaked toward Yeon-woo’s left neck, targeting the blind spot in her vision.
This time, there was no way to block it.
* * *
Crack—!
“Hk, hieee—!”
As the eating utensil split through the table, Baek Yeol-han would have died if Yeon-woo hadn’t dragged him back by the scruff of his neck.
His head would have cleaved clean in two.
Confronted with that death hovering before his eyes, Baek Yeol-han’s thoughts froze entirely. His body would not respond.
He trembled violently, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
His body instinctively curled inward, seeking deeper, safer ground to retreat into.
In that sheltered space, Baek Yeol-han cradled his head in his hands.
‘I—I, I didn’t come here to….’
This wasn’t why he’d entered Maryong Hall.
When word came that he’d earned his admission to Maryong Hall, his family had thrown a celebration.
Everyone in the village had congratulated him.
At last, they said, a martial warrior of our town would serve the divine palace.
He was told to become a warrior who could stand at the Sect Master’s side.
He had entered Maryong Hall with but a single resolve—to survive, to achieve that dream.
He’d simply not wanted to disappoint everyone’s hopes, to waste the chance to stand near the Sect Master.
‘It was—it was wrong from the start.’
He’d opened his mouth to the next person who passed, buoyed by the hope that he’d made it through the first test.
He’d managed to coax a meal out of Yeon-woo.
He’d presented the lotus-leaf rice he’d obtained from Byeok Gyotoo.
He’d tried to get another free meal by visiting her quarters. That was all.
“Yeol-han. Your trouble is that you’re too meddlesome. If you’re not careful, you’ll get tangled up in something dangerous. Sometimes you have to pretend you didn’t see anything.”
Mom, I think I’m already ruined.
I’m not just getting tangled up—I’m being swept away.
‘I might die soon, I think.’
Here in Maryong Hall, of all people, he had to offend Byeok Gyotoo’s sensibilities. There was no way he’d survive.
‘Now, truly….’
I’m going to die. I’m going to die. I’m going to die. I’m going to die. I’m going to die. I’m going to die. I’m going to d….
‘I don’t… want to die.’
Tears welled up in Baek Yeol-han’s eyes, glistening on his lashes.
It was around then that his gaze returned to focus.
Crash-crash! Clang-clang!
“…!”
The chaotic clatter of eating utensils skittering across the floor jolted his mind awake.
Only then did Baek Yeol-han look down beneath the table to take in the situation.
In that moment, Yeon-woo had already rushed out and was facing off against Byeok Gyotoo.
Baek Yeol-han’s eyes fixed blankly on Yeon-woo as she stood against Byeok Gyotoo.
Clearly they were both Trainees.
No matter how strong, there was no way he could match up against Gyotoo.
And she must surely know that.
‘Why….’
Why is she standing up to him?
‘And I….’
I’m like this….
Baek Yeol-han looked down at his own hands.
His trembling fingers laid bare the dread and helplessness of the moment.
It was true.
Baek Yeol-han was afraid.
He knew he could never defeat Gyotoo, knew he couldn’t even flee. And because of it….
Because he knew he would die soon, he was terrified beyond measure. And yet.
‘I can’t just die without doing anything at all.’
I haven’t shown anything yet.
I’ve only been a pathetic joke, and I haven’t shown my swordsmanship at all. So….
‘I have to do something. While Yeon-woo’s buying time, I have to try something too.’
Click.
Baek Yeol-han’s hand closed around the hilt of his sword beneath the table.
He’d brought it with him before coming to the Kitchen, prepared for any unforeseen situation.
His hands were still shaking, so he gripped the sword harder.
Before the table, he could see Jang Hwa-joo’s feet.
He counted silently to three in his mind.
Thump—clang!
He thrust off the table and burst upward, his blade flashing out.
The sound of steel striking something hard rang out sharply.
He’d calculated that Jang Hwa-joo might be waiting for the moment he emerged from beneath the table.
And Yeol-han’s calculation proved right.
Yeol-han’s drawn blade had knocked away whatever object Jang Hwa-joo had been wielding.
“…!”
“…!”
In that fleeting instant, their eyes met—Jang Hwa-joo and Baek Yeol-han.
In that moment, why was it….
That Jang Hwa-joo’s eyes held a terror even greater than his own?
Jang Hwa-joo was not a Martial Warrior. He was a cook.
A cook who merely followed orders.
The truth was, he lacked the skill to have even entered Maryong Hall, and that his position as Kitchen Master came down largely to his role as a go-between—which meant only one thing.
He was simply a cook with no real ability.
The moment Baek Yeol-han met those terrified eyes, he felt a courage he couldn’t name surge up within him—a sudden elation.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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